Just curious whats involved in replacing my halogen lights with the more powerfull xenon ones? I have done a lot of bits on my bus so am confident in the process if its possible! Will I need the level sensors and headlight washers?

Years ago I did it on a Honda Civic and it was just a case of plugging them in and telling the computer. I am hopeing it'll be that easy on the Sharan but probably going to be a bas**rd instead!

I looked at doing this with bits from a donor car,you are basically correct need all the hardware,lights,washers,bumper,level sensor etc and then program car to tell it HID fitted.

Thanks JR! Do I NEED those bits though? If I buy the lights and tell the car its got them will they work (with or without errors) or do the lights NEED the washers etc to function?

I am not 100% sure on your model of car whether the control unit will still allow the system to work if part of it is missing. Also with HID it is a requirement to have auto levelling and washers,the OE set up is designed for it.
If you want to go down HID route and donââ,¬â,,¢t want the washers and levelling could you get an after market kit? Donââ,¬â,,¢t go with cheap Chinese ones though look for something better quality with appropriate e markings.

Whatââ,¬â,,¢s the reason for wanting to change is the light output poor?

I looked into this a while back and fund out it was an MOT requirement for the washers, etc. Would have been nice to simply install the new HID headlights, but unfortunately not as easy as that!

Quote from: johnnyroper on January 04, 2018, 09:39:03 PM
could you get an after market kit?

No no no no no!
The optics of the halogen light won't handle a HID bulb so they end up not only dazzling other road users but actually reducing light output as it's just scattered rather then directed. Around town the scattered light gets reflected back more by street signs so people think they can see much better until they get on any unlit road... Additionally, HID kits have frequently been known to blow control modules on VAG cars, the high initial current draw needed to create the arc shortens the life of the BCM considerably.

With the headlight wash and levelling, I thought (for the purposes of MoT) this was clarified last year that it applied only "if fitted"? Ie, a manufacturer MUST fit them from standard but for a retrofit of xenon lights they wouldn't be tested unless fitted.

Could u just get some of those big lights u out on the front grill, like rally cars used to have

I would say after 2.5 years he has either sorted it or does not have the motor anymore. Might be an idea to check the dates of these posts before replying.

He or she, Tammy could be sort for Tamara for instance hehe.

Would be good to know what the eventual solution was, I would like to make my lights brighter too. Years ago I had some fancy headlight bulbs which claimed to be 120% brighter, but really they were just the same as the 99p ones as far as I could tell in terms of brightness

I bought these
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32853943547.html
They arrived within two weeks (although it was before the corona crisis)

They arrived quite fast. The Xenon lights just touch the reflector inside. So the supplier send me some smaller Xenon lights. They work very well and give no error on my Ford Galaxy 2003 2.4 liter automatic.

For the high beam I used these led lights.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000105520573.html

But also buy these leads other wise it is hard to connect them
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000109996747.html

I haven't been to the dutch MOT yet with these lights. So I don't know if they wil pass. The light pattern is fine.
If not I will put back the original bulbs for the MOT.

If I work on the headlights I take them out of the car (4 screws). Way easier than trying to work in the small space behind the headlights.

I get no errors on the cambus

*Edited by Mirez - Removed paid tracking links. If you genuinely think these are good, you shouldn't need to make any money from people following your links.